SWER Power Distribution Network for Homboza Village

Electrification
M. E. Irechukwu and A. T. Mushi
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam

Abstract—Rural electrification rate (RER) in Tanzania is still low. Despite employing

conventional power distribution systems, many Tanzanian villages still remain non-
electrified. This is because of costly power supply to dispersed rural loads. For economic
extension of power distribution networks to rural areas, Single Wire Earth Return (SWER)
electrification scheme is the most preferred. This paper presents the ground return path
modeled mathematically as a conductor. The developed model is applied to Homboza village
in Tanzania for feasibility check. Earth potential should be less than the maximum required
potential for human safety. Simulations are performed using MATLAB.
Index Terms—SWER, power distribution networks, RER.

I. INTRODUCTION

The single-phase two-wire system is the mostly used power distribution system for rural
electrification in Tanzania. The rural electrification rate (RER) in many Tanzanian rural areas is
still less than 10%, a surprising situation. High average investment cost and low benefit-cost ratio
to the utility are just some of the reasons behind (Hosseinzadeh and Mastakov, 2008). To
ameliorate this, SWER distribution network could be implemented. Lloyd Mandeno pioneered the
first study on SWER distribution networks which happened in 1925 and took place in New Zealand
(Mandeno, 1947). Soon enough, the SWER system became the preferred method for rural
electrification in Australia. Figure 1 shows a typical configuration of a SWER distribution system.
It consists of various components which include distribution transformers, a single isolation
transformer, Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR), and a properly working earthing
system. The surge arrestor guards against over-voltages. The HRC fuse wire guards against
overcurrent.

1
 Fig. 1: Typical configuration of SWER distribution system.

The most important component in SWER’s design is proper earthing. Ground current flow
could bring about dangerous potential gradients along ground surface as well as on the earthing
rods. Earthing should be carried out with great care for efficient and safe system operation. The
earthing system must be able to conduct continuous load currents and occasional network fault
currents. SWER’s earthing system design must constantly be within specifications (Karhammar,
2006). The product of load current and earth resistivity should not exceed 30 V, the maximum step
potential for both humans and animals. Lower resistive soils could therefore allow for heavier
loads to be supplied (Brooking et al., 1992).
Ground electrodes are used to connect the SWER system to the earth. The electrodes’
resistances should be negligible. Their resistances depend on the soil’s resistivity in contact with
the electrodes. The ground electrodes at the distribution transformer should have a resistance
between 5 and 10 ohms (5-10Ω) whereas the range for those at the isolation transformers should
be between 1 and 2 ohms (1-2Ω) to prevent dangerous voltage gradients at ground level (Brooking
et al., 1992). For a functional SWER system, the earth electrodes should be driven to at least 3 to

2
5 meters below ground surface (Taylor et al., 1988). Earth electrodes must be protected against
theft and vandalism.

II. SWER MATHEMATICAL LINE MODEL

Power flow complexity in earth return distribution networks was first addressed by J. R. Carson in
1926 (Carson, 1926). The SWER line model was based on the earth return path taken as a
conductor with geometric mean radius (GMR) of 1m, uniform resistivity, and of infinite length.
The return path beneath earth’s surface is parallel to the single overhead conductor of length b
carrying current Ib (Wolfs et al, 2007). Figure 2 shows a model of SWER overhead line with earth
return path.

Figure 2: Carson’s line model with earth return

Equation 1 shows the earth return path equation where both the overhead line and earth return path
voltages can be determined (Ciric, 2004).

𝑉𝑏𝑏′ 𝑉𝑏 −𝑉𝑏′ 𝑧𝑏𝑏 𝑧𝑏𝑒 𝐼𝑏

( )=( )=( )( ) (1)
𝑉𝑒𝑒 ′ 𝑉𝑒 −𝑉𝑒 ′ 𝑧𝑏𝑒 𝑧𝑒𝑒 −𝐼𝑏

𝑉𝑒 is the earth’s surface voltage, 𝑉𝑏 is the overhead conductor’s voltage, 𝑧𝑏𝑏 is the overhead line
self-impedance, 𝑧𝑏𝑒 is the mutual impedance between the ground and the overhead line, 𝑧𝑒𝑒 is the
ground self-impedance, and 𝐼𝑏 is the current flowing in the SWER line overhead conductor.
Reference voltage 𝑉𝑒 is 0. Calculating for 𝑉𝑏 :

3
 𝑉𝑏 = (𝑧𝑏𝑏 + 𝑧𝑒𝑒 − 2𝑧𝑏𝑒 ) 𝐼𝑏 = 𝑍𝑏𝑏 𝐼𝑏 (2)

where 𝑍𝑏𝑏 is the overall line impedance in (Ω/km) and is a resultant of (𝑧𝑏𝑏 + 𝑧𝑒𝑒 − 2𝑧𝑏𝑒 ). The
self-impedance of the overhead conductor, 𝑧𝑏𝑏 is given by:

2(ℎ𝑏 +𝑑𝑒 )
𝑧𝑏𝑏 = 𝑅𝑏 + 𝑗4π × 10−4 𝑓 ln[ ] (3)
𝑟𝑏

𝑅𝑏 : Resistance of the SWER line conductor in (Ω/km),

f: frequency in (Hz),
ℎ𝑏 : Height of the conductor above the ground in (m),
𝑑𝑒 : Depth of the ground return path from the earth surface in (m),
𝑟𝑏 : External radius of the conductor

Determination of 𝑑𝑒 is possible using equation 4 where µ is the permeability value of the

material in (H/m), 𝜔 is the angular frequency in (rad/s), and 𝜌 is the resistivity value in (Ω-m).

𝜌
𝑑𝑒 = √ (4)
𝜔µ

The self-impedance of the ground conductor, and the mutual impedance between the overhead
line and the ground return conductor are given by equation 5 and equation 6 respectively.
2
𝑧𝑒𝑒 = (π2 × 10−4 𝑓) − 𝑗(0.0386 × 8π × 10−4 𝑓) + 𝑗4π × 10−4 𝑓 ln(5.6198×10−3 ) (5)
(ℎ𝑏 )
𝑧𝑏𝑒 = 𝑗2π ∗ 10−4 ln[ 0.5 ] (6)
(ρ/f)

III. APPLICATION
III.1. CASE STUDY
In Tanzania, the electricity demand in rural areas is on the rise. Majority of the rural
population lack electricity access. A non-electrified village in Pwani region, Tanzania is chosen
to be supplied through SWER system. Homboza village had a population of 5565 inhabitants and
171 households as at July 2019. Less than 10% of that population are electrified.

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III.2. SWER SIMULATION RESULT

The SWER line extends from the isolation transformer to the distribution transformers
located in the village. The primary side of the distribution transformers are at single phase voltages
of 6.35 kV. The distribution transformers step down the voltage from 6.35 kV to 230 V. In this
paper, ACSR conductor is selected due to its technical advantages. It has the highest calculated
breaking load and the lowest unit resistance.

Table 1: SWER conductors and their properties

Conductor Stranding Overall Cross Mass Resistance Calculated
type and wire diameter section (kg/km) (Ω/km) Breaking
diameter (mm) area load
(mm2)
Galvanised 3/2.75 5.93 17.82 139 12.05 22.2
Steel
conductor
Aluminium- 3/2.75 5.93 10.26 118 5.75 22.2
Steel clad
ACSR 6/3.0 9 49.48 171 0.893 149

Table 2: Resistivity values for various soil types

Soil Type Resistivity (Ω-m)
Moist Sand 200
Wet organic soil 10
Clay 50
Loamy soil 300
Dry sand 2000
Stony ground 2000
Very dry soil 1000
Dry gravel 3000

Calculating for the geometric mean radius (GMR) for ACSR conductors with cross section area
49.48mm2 according to Table 1:

1
𝐺𝑀𝑅 = 𝑟𝑏 𝑒 −4 = 0.7788𝑟𝑏
49.48
= 0.7788 × √ 𝜋

= 3.09 mm

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From equation 3, assume ℎ𝑏 = 9.8m. From Table 1, 𝑅𝑏 = 0.893 Ω/km for ACSR conductors. The
case study village has clay soil whose resistivity value, ρ = 50 Ω-m, according to Table 2. From
equation 4, the depth at which earth electrodes are placed:

50
𝑑𝑒 = √2π×50×0.01

𝑑𝑒 = 3.99 m

Calculating for the self-impedance of the overhead conductor from equation 3:

2(9.8 + 3.99)
𝑧𝑏𝑏 = 0.893 + 𝑗4π × 10−4 × 50 ln[ ]
3.09

𝑧𝑏𝑏 = (0.893 + 𝑗0.09398) Ω/km

Calculating for the self-impedance of the assumed ground return conductor from equation 5:

2
𝑧𝑒𝑒 = (π2 × 10−4 × 50) − 𝑗(0.0386 × 8π × 10−4 × 50) + 𝑗4π × 10−4 ln(5.6198×10−3 )

𝑧𝑒𝑒 = (0.0049 − 𝑗0.0122) Ω/km

The self-impedance of the earth conductor is (0.0049 − 𝑗0.0122) Ω/km.

The mutual impedance between the overhead line and the earth return conductor is calculated from
equation 6:

(15)
𝑧𝑏𝑒 = 𝑗2π × 10−4 ln[ 0.5 ]
(50/50)

𝑧𝑏𝑒 = 𝑗0.0017 Ω/km

The toal SWER line impedance, 𝑍𝑏𝑏 = (0.8979 + 𝑗0.07838) Ω/km from equation 2. Figure 3 is
a simulated display of the Carson SWER line model using Matlab 2013b software. Self-impedance
values and the mutual impedance value are put into the simulated blocks to determine the earth
potential. It can be seen in Fig 3 that the earth potential is 18.15 V which is less than the maximum
required earth potential (30 V) for feasibility of SWER distribution networks. The voltage is
measured across the earth impedance or across the earth electrodes.

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 Figure 3: Simulated display of SWER line model using Matlab 2013b software

IV. CONCLUSION

This paper has discussed the feasibility of SWER implementation in the village of
Homboza in Tanzania. With the earth potential value at 18.2 V which is less than the maximum
required earth potential (30 V), the SWER system is safe for the Homboza population. SWER
distribution network implementation is advantageous for Homboza village inhabitants and the
power utility.

REFERENCES

Brooking, T.R., Janse van Rensburg, N. and Fourie, R. (1992). “The Improved Utilisation of
Existing Rural Networks with the Use of Intermediate Voltage and Single Wire Earth
Return Systems.” 3rd AFRICON Conference, pp. 228–234.
Carson, J.R. (1926). “Wave Propagation in Overhead Wires with Earth Return.” Bell System
Technologies, 5 (4), pp. 540-543.

Ciric, R.M., Ochoa, L.F. and Padilha, A. (2004). “Power Flow in Distribution Networks with Earth
Return.” Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 26 (1), pp. 373–380.

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Hosseinzadeh, N. and Mastakov, S. (2008). “Load Modeling for Medium Voltage SWER
Distribution Networks.” Australian Universities Power Engineering Conference
(AUPEC), vol. 173. pp. 1-5.
Karhammar, R. (2006). Sub-Saharan Africa: Introducing Low Cost Methods in Electricity
Distribution Networks. Technical Report 104. Washington D.C.: Energy Sector
Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).

Mandeno, L. (1947). Rural Power Supply Especially in Back Country Areas. Wellington: New
Zealand Institute of Engineers.
Taylor, J. and Effeny, T. (1988). Service Experiences with Single Wire Earth Return Distribution
in central Queensland. Queensland.

Wolfs, P.J., Hosseinzadeh, N. and Senini, S.T. (2007). “Capacity Enhancement for Aging Single
Wire Earth Return Distribution Systems.” IEEE Power Engineering Society, 1 (8),
pp. 2-4.